Workload Management

Teenage world champion D Gukesh recently withdrew from the Tata Steel India Rapid and Blitz tournament in Kolkata for personal reasons, a rare move amid his packed schedule. With the FIDE World Championship defense looming in less than 10 months, Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa are adopting a more selective approach to events in 2026, focusing on classical chess to avoid burnout. Experts highlight the mental fatigue from non-stop play affecting their performances.